Assembly members
discuss role in policy-making; Sen. Schwarz addresses Town Meeting

By Rebecca A. Doyle

"Is the Michigan Mandate an appropriate
policy to achieve diversity at the University? Is the Agenda for Women
defining the University's goals appropriately?" George Brewer asked
members of the Senate Assembly at their June meeting.

Brewer, who
chairs the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA), asked
for a show of hands on the issues and response from Assembly members on
whether the University's policies in these two areas are meeting the needs
of the University community as part of his report on a retreat the group
held with President James J. Duderstadt earlier that month.

"There
is a need for full participation by all faculty in the decision-making
process," he told faculty members. Faculty members must participate in the
reconsideration and change of values and reward systems, he said, speaking
about policies regarding tenure and promotion.

Brewer also noted
that the U-M has made progress in the hiring and promotion of minority
faculty members, and that there was more mentoring of junior faculty.

"The retreat was a good use of time, valuable for all of us," he said,
but also noted that the practice of both the Michigan Mandate and the
Agenda for Women was not "making it into the units," and that there is a
need to foster activity in this area in individual units.

Brewer
also reported to Assembly members on a luncheon that SACUA members
attended with five members of the Board of Regents. Important points of
that meeting, he said, were that Regents were concerned about the negative
comments raised in the May Faculty Town Meeting with state legislators and
the effect such comments might have on appropriations for the
University.

The Regents also discussed improving the grievance
procedures for faculty and streamlining procedures for discontinuation of
programs.

Brewer says he plans to continue the Faculty Town Meeting
series and has a tentative list of high-profile speakers for the fall
series that includes CBS newsman Mike Wallace; Harold Shapiro, former U-M
president; Mary Good, assistant secretary of commerce; and Frank Popoff,
chief executive officer for Dow Chemical Co.

Following the Senate
Assembly meeting, members heard John J.H. Schwarz, R-Battle Creek, who is
a member of the State Senate Appropriations Committee, speak on the budget
process and the history of appropriations to the state's higher education
institutions.

According to Schwarz, the political process is not a
pretty sight.

"There are two things you don't want to see made,"
Schwarz told faculty members. "Sausage and law."

The U-M faces a
tough challenge in Lansing because competition from other state-supported
public institutions is stiff, and the lobbying efforts have become intense
in recent years.

"It went from croquet to all-out war in one year,"
he said.

Schwarz suggested the University "make itself a presence
in Lansing. Presidents of universities must start lobbying as
representatives of their universities."

Conclusions the U-M can
draw from recent battles for state funding are that the University must
become proactive in lobbying efforts, that provosts and deans should
communicate with legislators from other parts of the state who have
similar interests and that faculty should testify before legislative
committees and subcommittees.

"If you are invited to come to
testify," he said, "you will be appreciated, listened to and your message
will get out." The U-M has a reputation for excellence that is valued by
legislators and "there is nothing wrong with your image," Schwarz
attested.

Following a two-month break in July and August, Senate
Assembly will begin regular meetings again in the fall.